After growing 8.2% in 2015, the medical and surgical aesthetics market grew a further 8.3% in 2016. Representing almost half of global market share (46%), the USA still leads the way on such procedures, followed by Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America, according to annual figures from IMCAS (International Master Course on Ageing Science), revealed at a congress, January 26, in Paris. Asia and body contouring still record the highest growth rates.

Specialists estimate continued and stable growth in cosmetic surgery procedures worldwide, with 8.9% growth by 2020. The market, worth US $8.5 billion 2016, could be worth US $9.2 billion in 2020.

Asia drives global growth

Global growth is above all driven by Asia, which saw annual growth of 10% in 2016 and should continue to follow Europe closely in 2020. Demand in Asia is exploding, practitioners say, driven by a rapidly growing middle class and a quest for more Caucasian features.

On the whole, the market for medical and surgical cosmetic procedures in the USA is predicted to account for almost half of the global market by 2020 (44%), followed by the Asia-Pacific region (23%), Europe (25%) and Latin America (7%).

Behind the United States and Brazil, South Korea was the third biggest market for aesthetic treatments in 2015, with 1.2 million procedures out of a global total of 21.7 million, according to data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).While breast augmentation and liposuction are the most popular procedures in the USA, Brazil, Mexico and most of Europe, demand in South Korea is for eye, nose, cheek and chin resculpting.

Injectable products still in vogue

Injectable products (principally botulinum toxin and fillers) remain the market leaders in terms of value (38%), with an average annual growth of 8.3% per year expected until 2020.

However, energy-based devices (laser, ultrasound, radiofrequency) and body contouring devices are almost as popular (35% of the global market), and higher average annual growth is expected (11%).

Body contouring procedures saw the biggest growth in 2016, at 16.3%. This category includes various types of procedures, such as facelifts, abdominoplasty, buttock implants and liposuction.

Cosmeceuticals (active cosmetics) are seeing stronger growth than breast implants, with average annual growth of 7.6% versus 2.2% from 2014 to 2019.

Asia saw the strongest growth in breast implants, at 7.3%, compared to 0.4% in Europe.

The IMCAS analysis was compiled using available data relating to the medical and surgical aesthetics market from market research companies, financial analysts and industry professionals present at the IMCAS Tribune.